A relocation specialist will take you to do these things:
Go to your Rathaus (city hall) and get a tax permit and Anmeldebestätigung (local registration). This is not your Aufenthaltsgenehmigung (official German
residency permit).
Get biometric photos for your visa
Find a flat and sign a lease
Get a phone, cell phone, and internet connection
Fill out insurance paperwork
The specialist will also go independently to apply for your residency permit.
You will have to fill out some paperwork
You will give your visa to your specialist and he/she will take care of the rest for you.
Choosing an Apartment/Flat
Neighborhoods
It is important to note that if you live walking-distance to a main S-bahn line, your commute will be shorter, even if you live further out.
Distance from BBIS
with public transport:
Neighborhood and
recommended train lines
<15 min.
Kleinmachnow (S1 Mexikoplatz, U3 Krumme Lanke)
Teltow (S2)
Stahnsdorf (S1/S7 Wannsee RE)
15-30 min.
Zehlendorf (S1)
30-60 min.
Steglitz (S1 U9)
Charlottenburg (S7, RE33)
>60 min.
Kreuzberg (U6, U7, connect to S1)
Schöneberg (U1, U3)
Mitte (S9, S5, U6, S1, S2, U2)
Prenzlauer Berg (RE1)
Terms to know
German
Abbrev.
English
Altbau
Altb./Ab.
older construction
(built before WWII, usually has high ceilings)
Bad/WC
bath / separate toilet
Badewanne
bathtub
Badezimmer
Bd.
bathroom
Balkon
Balk
balcony
Dusche
shower
Einbauküche
EbK
built in kitchen
Kaltmiete
KM
rent without utilities
Kaution
Kaut/Kt.
deposit
Möblierte/s
furnished
Nebenkosten
NK
utilities and services
Neubau
Nb.
newer construction, relatively new building
Provisionfrei
commission free
Terrasse
Ter
terrace
Warmmiete
WM
rent, including utilities
Wohnfläch
area of apartment in m2
Zimmer
Zi.
room
(e.g., a 2-Zimmer apartment/flat = 1 bdrm.
plus living room)
Zuzüglich
zzgl.
in addition/plus
Appliance and fixtures
Geschirrspüler
dishwasher
Herd
stove
Kühlschrank
refrigerator
Lichtanlagen/Leuchte
light fixtures
Ofen
oven
Trockner
dryer
Waschmaschine
laundry machine
* It is important to note that many apartments come without light fixtures, refrigerator, etc. * When looking at an apartment, clarify which appliances will remain, and which will not
* Make sure to clarify with the relocation specialist and your landlord which utilitiesare/are not included in your rent.
Paying for Things
Cash EC card (Debit Card) Credit cards are not as commonly accepted; many places will not take Visa, MasterCard, etc. Bank transfer—Once you have an account, you can set up bank transfers between utility companies, or even www.amazon.de. This transfer is called an Überweisung.
Use Google to find a bike store in your area (e.g. “Fahrradladen Schoeneberg”)
You should be able to find a new bike for €200-€500, and a used bike for around €150-€200.
Many companies offer packages with phone and internet.
www.teltarif.de (in German) can help you find a pre-dial code that can help reduce long distance calling costs. This website is also useful for pricing out other telecommunication costs.
Getting a Cell Phone
Contracts for cell phones (Handys)
Some companies offer pay-as-you go plans without contracts (e.g. Simyo or Tchibo)
Everything that can be recycled gets recycled
Most bottles operate on a deposit (Pfand) and refund system
When you purchase a bottle at the store you pay a deposit
Bring your bottles back to a store, place them in the return machine, and receive either cash back or a credit slip depending on the store.
Common bins for “trash”
Cardboard/paper = Papier
Plastic/metal/packaging= Verpackung (Gelbe Sack)
Biodegradable = Bio (food rests)
Other trash= Restmüll
Glass Glass that does not have a Pfand (typically non-drink containers, and wine bottles) gets put in big dome-shaped recycling bins that you will see periodically on the sides of the street or in your building’s courtyard.
Should be sorted by color Braunglas = brown glass Grünglas = green glass Weißglas = clear glass Buntglas = colored glass (brown, green, etc.)
Restaurants and Bars
It is standard to pay cash most places, especially in restaurants and bars. Tipping
Employees receive regular wages
Give the tip directly to the wait staff, do not leave it on the table
As a general rule of thumb, round up to the next Euro. Add two Euros if the bill is larger, etc.
Tipping 5%-15% is normal
Tipping 20% would be excessive
When you are ready to pay in a restaurant, kindly flag down your server; they will not bring the check until you ask for it.
Other helpful restaurant tips:
Water comes carbonated unless you ask for “stilles Wasser”
If you would like tap water, ask for Leitungswasser. NOTE: they may say they cannot give this to you, or simply bring you a small glass. This varies from restaurant to restaurant.
No free refills on drinks and drinks come with little to no ice
Peperoni means a green peperoncini pepper, not the sliced sausage
Toilets (die Toilette or WC)
The toilet is typically free if you are a patron of the establishment
In malls or restaurants where you just stop in, a small fee (30-50 cents) may be requested. It is not unusual to find an attendant there
There are public toilets around town that you can pay to use
Table of Contents
Settling In
Registering in Berlin/Brandenburg
A relocation specialist will take you to do these things:residency permit).
Choosing an Apartment/Flat
NeighborhoodsIt is important to note that if you live walking-distance to a main S-bahn line, your commute will be shorter, even if you live further out.
with public transport:
recommended train lines
Terms to know
(built before WWII, usually has high ceilings)
(e.g., a 2-Zimmer apartment/flat = 1 bdrm.
plus living room)
* When looking at an apartment, clarify which appliances will remain, and which will not
Paying for Things
CashEC card (Debit Card)
Credit cards are not as commonly accepted; many places will not take Visa, MasterCard, etc.
Bank transfer—Once you have an account, you can set up bank transfers between utility companies, or even www.amazon.de. This transfer is called an Überweisung.
Buying a Bike
Use Google to find a bike store in your area (e.g. “Fahrradladen Schoeneberg”)
You should be able to find a new bike for €200-€500, and a used bike for around €150-€200.
Getting a Telephone / Internet
is the most popular.
Getting a Cell Phone
Some companies offer pay-as-you go plans without contracts (e.g. Simyo or Tchibo)
Recycling and Trash
Everything that can be recycled gets recycledMost bottles operate on a deposit (Pfand) and refund system
When you purchase a bottle at the store you pay a deposit
Bring your bottles back to a store, place them in the return machine, and receive either cash back or a credit slip depending on the store.
Common bins for “trash”
Cardboard/paper = Papier
Plastic/metal/packaging= Verpackung (Gelbe Sack)
Biodegradable = Bio (food rests)
Other trash= Restmüll
Glass
Should be sorted by color
Braunglas = brown glass
Grünglas = green glass
Weißglas = clear glass
Buntglas = colored glass (brown, green, etc.)
Shopping
Furniture
Electronics and small appliances
Hardware/Building Centre
General Necessities
The following are chains that are found all around Berlin:Groceries
Everything/Discount Stores (from basic electronics to clothes)
Smaller “drug stores” (cosmetics and cleaning supplies)
Malls, Shopping Districts, and Department Stores
Potsdamer Platz ArkadenKufürstendamm (large shopping street with various stores)
Wilmersdorferstraße
Friedrichstraße (shopping street with various stores)
Alexanderplatz
Das Schloss, Rathaus Steglitz
Shopping Center in Teltow
SternCenter (Postdam)
Department stores
You will find the following department stores throughout Berlin:
Shoes
Specialty shops
Latin American Foods
Asian Food Markets
American Food Shops
British Foods
Buying new & used items
Cultural Differences
Culture Shock Tips
Restaurants and Bars
It is standard to pay cash most places, especially in restaurants and bars.
Tipping
When you are ready to pay in a restaurant, kindly flag down your server; they will not bring the check until you ask for it.
Other helpful restaurant tips:
Toilets (die Toilette or WC)
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